....for many of you who may have known Bill and watched him perform thru the years......rest in peace sweet Billy..... William Wayne BILL TILLMAN B/May 14, 1947 Houston, Harris, Texas D/August 15, 2012 Houston, Harris, Texas Burbank Junior High School Class of 1965 Sam Houston High School Born to the union of William Elbert and Marilyn Maxine Kronert Tillman, Bill attended Burbank Junior High and was set to graduate with the Class of 1965 Sam Houston High School..... Written by his Beloved Sister Evelyn, Class of 1966 Sam Houston High School...... William Bill Wayne Tillman, 65, passed away on August 15, 2012. He was a Musical Legend who started playing the piano at the early age of 5, along with his mother in church. At 8 years old, he received his first guitar from his mom; by 10, he also played the tenor saxophone, the acoustic, electric and electric bass guitar; by 11, was a paid musician who hitchhiked all over Houston to earn money to help his single mother and siblings; by 12, he added the clarinet and the alto saxophone to his list; all along he played in the band programs of HISD and performed at night with professional performing artist. Bill had his first 3 television appearances on CBS Salute to Youth, performed as a featured soloist on recordings by BJ Thomas and Roy Head, and at the age of 18, he received the Texas Most Outstanding Musician Award; all before his high school graduation. Bill was pursued by ten colleges and chose the University of North Texas and progressed through the music. At the age of 21, he went on a United States tour with The Coasters and followed it up travelling on the road with Chuck Berry and Bo Didley. He settled in Nashville and performed with Roy Orbison for one year. Upon his return to Dallas he formed the band Rose Colored Glass with Bobby Caldwell and recorded a #3 National Hit in the Pop Charts called Cant Find the Time. Bill moved into the national scene with Gladys Night and the Pips which lasted almost 2 years until he got his biggest opportunity to date. He received a call to come to New York City and audition for the already famous group, Blood Sweat and Tears. His audition was outstanding and was used on his first album of many more to come. He was a key member of this world-renowned group for five years. He played four saxophones and the flute, wrote musical scores, traveled around the world five times and performed on over 50 live television shows including Mike Douglas; Merv Griffin; Dinah Shore; The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Peter Marshall; and The Midnight Special with Wolfman Jack. The group performed at many extra special events such as The 76 Olympics, both the Monterrey and Newport Jazz Festivals. During these years, four television shows focused solely on BS& T, they were: ABC & CBS Special hosted by Clive Davis; On Tour in Scandinavia & Tour in Canada. Bill was featured on 9 albums while in the group, they are entitled: Mirror Image, New City, More Than Ever, Blood Sweat & Tears; and BS&T in Concert, BS&T Live at the Monterrey Jazz Festival; BS&T Live at Newport Jazz Festival and BS&T Live in Scandinavia. Five compact disc compilation albums have been released in which Bills solos and arrangements are featured. After completed the five world tours and seven albums with BS&T, Bill decided to return to Texas to raise his family and continue his music career. Upon his return to Dallas he was featured soloist for both The Dallas Symphony & Jazz Orchestra. He was featured soloist on the Dallas Jazz Orchestras First Album in the early eighties he toured the United States with Duke Ellington Orchestra. At the age of 34, Bill formed The Bill Tillman band with a collection of musicians who could perform at his high standards for musical talent and professionalism. His group has entertained: President Bill Clinton while in office, Ross Perot, Loretta Swit, Michael Dell, Bob Crandell, The US Navy, The 100th Anniversary of the Wall Street Journal, The 100th Anniversary of the Dallas Country Club, The Crystal Charity Ball of Texas, The Tennessee Swan Ball, The Kentucky Beaux-Arts Ball and for many more prestigious people and events. Bills musical performance, personal charm and professionalism were keys to his success for Corporate Events, Weddings, Charity Fundraisers and other Special Events. In recent years he owned and was Vice President of Bill Tillmans Seafood House and Sax Club in Fort Worth, TX; partner and GM to The Kings Club at the Aldolphus Hotel in Dallas, TX. Bill has a very large following of devoted and loyal fans which will continue to grow. To have seen and heard the awesome talents of Bill Tillman and his band was truly a delight and will forever be an unforgettable event. His memory will be cherished by his family: sons: Wayne Tillman & wife Bridget, Anthony Tillman & wife Marie Tillman (by marriage to Judy Tillman); daughter, Dallas Tillman Hebert & husband Ryan (by marriage to Debra Tillman); son: Brian Tillman, daughter, Grace Tillman & Richard Tillman (by wife Suzanne Tillman); mother, Marilyn Miller; sister, Evelyn Scott and grandchildren. Dallas saxophonist and former Blood Sweat & Tears band member Bill Tillman died Wednesday morning in Houston. He was 65. Known for his flashy sax work and husky vocals, Mr. Tillman dominated the stage, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing in at nearly 300 pounds. Also a gifted flutist, he recorded eight albums with Blood, Sweat & Tears and toured nationally with artists such as Roy Orbison, Gladys Knight and Chuck Berry. From 1978 to 1980, he was also a soloist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. With an ability to switch effortlessly from jazz to classic rock to swing and standards, Mr. Tillman eschewed the traditional horn player’s role in the background and instead preferred to front the Bill Tillman Band. He spent decades playing area clubs such as Popsicle Toes, Memphis, the Village Country Club and the Arcadia Ballroom. “He played every grand ballroom of every hotel you can name,” said his son Anthony Tillman. Mr. Tillman was known for stage antics such as tearing phone books in half. “At Memphis in Addison, people would toss phone books up onstage and the new guys in the band didn’t know why,” his son recalled. “His legacy is a joy.” A Plano resident for most of the last 30 years, Mr. Tillman was awaiting a kidney transplant and was in Houston for medical treatment, staying at the home of his mother, Marilyn K. Miller. He died after hitting his head in an early-morning fall in the bathroom. In addition to his mother and son, five other children survive him... His son Barrett Alexander Tillman died in 2000. By ALAN PEPPARD StaffWriter Published August 15, 2012 From 66Evelyn Tillman Schindler Scott , Bills Sister..... “There will be a memorial service for my beloved brother Bill Tillman at Bethel Tabermacle on Saturday the 8th of September 2012 at 3:00 PM. We will be there talking about how wonderful Bill was and how much he loved his friends, family and music. Amazing Grace will be played (that was his favorite song) at the service. I shall miss him. I loved him so and I told him so every time I spoke with him. Thank God I did because now it is too late to tell him how much I loved him. There will be a gathering afterwards, with refreshments. See you there.” Bill went all thru classes with the Class of 1965 ....... Almost like he is still with us.....turn up your speakers...... https://youtube/watch?v=_MkVMg5kPjo&feature=rel
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 05:18:33 +0000
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